“He Writes In English, For God’s Sake”

November 14, 2013 in Books, Excerpts, Urban Studies | Permalink

From his Ask Me Anything at Reddit, Jerry Saltz, New York‘s smart art critic, reveals the book he most recommends for those who want to learn more about the field:

“Question:

I know next to nothing about art but I read you in New York mag all the time. My question is: What’s one book you’d recommend to someone interested in art and learning more but with next-to-no-knowledge of art history/the art world?

Jerry Saltz:

Off the Wall by Calvin Tompkins. It’s about how artists like Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, and Merce Cunningham made the train of American art history jump off the tracks, and land on a new track – the one we’re still huffing along on. And, it’s an easy read. He writes in English, for God’s sake.”

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